VIRTUALLY REAL: DIGITAL PETS DON'T BARK, BUT THEY DO BEEP

Brenda Schloss takes her two dogs to work with her every day. She plays with them, feeds them and generally takes care of them -- all with the press of a button.

Schloss' dogs are virtual pets, those stopwatch-sized computer gadgets you can hang from belt loops or backpacks, or just carry in your pocket.

The pets are popular in the United States and much of the world.

Virtual pets include dogs, cats, monkeys, birds, babies, dinosaurs, dragons, aliens and other assorted creatures.

They appear as a tiny picture on a screen. The object is to raise and nurture the digital pets by pressing various buttons. You even have to clean up after it.

They come in a variety of brands, including Japan's original Tamagotchi brand and later varieties like Giga Pets, Nano and Pocket Puppy. The toy typically costs about $15.

Schloss' Giga Pets are "Spike" and "Yoyo." Your pet doesn't come alive on the screen until you name it.

The two digital dogs appear right at home with the Schloss family, which also takes care of several live animals.

"We have three cats, a dog and a rabbit, and two virtual pets," said the Cape Girardeau woman who works at City Hall as administrative secretary for inspection services.

Schloss keeps her virtual pets on her desk, but she turns off the sound so they don't make a beep.

Schloss' 12-year-old daughter, Caitlin, bought a Giga Pet in August.

Caitlin's first "dog" died within two weeks. She then started over. She named her new dog, "Superman."

He proved to be super, living 74 days. Typically, a Giga Pet lives for about two weeks before dying and sprouting angel wings. Then, you have to hit the reset button and raise a new pet.

Schloss said the company told her the oldest pet they were aware of lasted 104 days.

When school started this fall, Brenda Schloss took over day-time care of the pooch.

Caitlin continued to care for the virtual pet on the weekends.

But "Superman" died when he was left unattended in a car overnight. "I took him shopping on a Friday night and left him in the car," Brenda Schloss said.

"Superman" has been resurrected as "Yoyo."

The current creation has lasted close to 50 days. Schloss' other digital dog, "Spike" is around 60 days old.

"Spike" is a stray, Schloss said. Her 18-year-old daughter, Emily, brought home the unclaimed Giga Pet. She took it home after it went unclaimed for days at the Outback Steakhouse where she works.

"She only had it about two days and got tired of taking care of it," Schloss said.

Schloss said both Giga Pets are now synchronized. "They pretty much eat and sleep at the same time," she said.

"They take a nap in the morning, a nap in the afternoon and a nap in the evening," Schloss said. Both pets wake about 7 a.m.

Schloss said Caitlin takes care of both virtual pets on the weekends. Caitlin sometimes leaves the sound on. "People hear my coat beep," she said.

Schloss said virtual pets need a lot of attention.

She said they treat the digital dogs like they do their real dog. "Never give a dog a treat," she said.

Virtual-pet owners also should avoid taking the animals to the virtual veterinarian whenever possible.

If you do take your pet to the virtual vet, you need to make up for it by playing with him a lot to keep him happy, she said.

"Give him a bath once a day," she suggested. "It will keep him happy."

Schloss said the key to keeping your virtual pet alive is to keep its "health and happiness" score at around 100 all the time.

Schloss enjoys the Giga Pets. "It is a stress release thing," she said.

Schloss said they also teach children responsibility when it comes to taking care of a pet.